Exchange students treated to Halloween bash

Aa big Halloween bash was held at the Nancy Rabinowitz residence in Dover on Friday, where five exchange students attending Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School got together with some of their friends.

One of the things that exchange students Supakorn “Pin” Tantanakul, David Wang, Jacob Müller, Pablo Sebastián and Sofia De Landero were looking forward to when they came to study in the United States was celebrating Halloween.

Nancy Rabinowitz, who is playing host to Pin, decided it would be great to go all-out for Halloween. And so her house at 513 E. Iron Avenue is elaborately decorated. And Pin and David had a lot of fun helping put it all together.

There also was a big Halloween bash at the Rabinowitz residence Friday, where the five exchange students got together with some of their friends.

The five are attending Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School.

Pin is from Thailand, David from China, Jacob from Germany, Pablo from Spain and Sofia is from Mexico.

Four of the students got together at Rabinowitz’s house Thursday to talk about their stay in the Tuscarawas Valley.

David dressed up as Godzilla and brought his costume all the way from China.

“When I heard he brought a costume, I knew I had to do something because he was so excited about Halloween,” said Rabinowitz.

Pin’s selection was the Cat in the Hat. Jacob’s choice was a ghost, and Pablo was Super Mario.

The four said Halloween isn’t as big in their countries, and Jacob said when he went trick-or-treating in Germany, it was boring and the mask he wore scared people.

The Rabinowitz residence is decorated with ghosts, scary masks, cobwebs and has some skulls and bones in the front yard — among other props.

Halloween is just one of the events that the students are experiencing. They are all getting used to their new surroundings. They all agree that staying in the area has been pleasant.

“The people here are very nice,” said David. “Today on my way to basketball practice, a girl from school asked if I needed a ride.”

They also said it has been more comfortable adjusting because they all are in the same situation.

“Of course, that is a big help,” said Jacob.

The exchange students say school seems easier but it still is challenging because everything is in English.

The students are not the only ones learning new things. Rabinowitz said it has been enjoyable to have Pin stay at the house.

Although Rabinowitz adopted a daughter from Thailand named Wanimoon years ago, she really had not known a lot about the Thai culture.

Pin said she made some Thai food that wasn’t as spicy as it normally is — but was still too much for Nancy.

“She couldn’t handle it,” Pin said, with a laugh.

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The students have some high goals. David wants to learn law and then go back to China to see if he can help it become a better country.

Pin, who has been to Malaysia, China, England, New Zealand and the Philippines, wants to become a diplomat and said visiting numerous countries will make her well-rounded.

They all have noticed that junk food is readily available in America and know about shows such as “The Simpsons.”

“The Simpsons are everywhere, they are universal,” said Jacob, who said he does find some commercials humorous.

“I like the one that says you can lose weight by just taking a pill,” he said.

As far as sports go, Jacob and Pablo said soccer is king in their countries. David said pingpong and badminton are huge in China, and Pin said Thai boxing is king in her country. Pin said she knows Thai boxing and has some pretty strong legs.

And for all American parents who think kids today are too wired up, take solace.

“I think (technology) is a lot more in China,” said David.

The host family for David is Phil and Jodi Salvo of Dover, Jacob is staying with Harold and Kandy Close of Dover, Sofia is staying with Todd and Naomi Gopp of New Philadelphia, and Pablo is staying with Jeff and Valerie Tucker of New Philadelphia.